44th Annual Photo Contest

"Helping Head" by Christopher Horner of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Photographer Christopher Horner of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is the winner of the Dave Boss Award of Excellence for his entry in the 44th Annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Photo Contest. His photo titled “Helping Head" was deemed the Photograph of the Year for the 2011 National Football League season.

The color action image shows Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller catching a pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Miller’s effort is seemingly helped by Houston Texans' linebacker Brian Cushing on whose helmet the ball appears to be perfectly balanced. The photo was taken during the second quarter of Houston’s 17-10 victory on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 at Reliant Stadium.

Who was Dave Boss?

The late Dave Boss spent nearly four decades working for the NFL and led NFL Properties creative division for 26 years. He was an award-winning photographer in addition to leading the publishing and design efforts for the league. In 1992 he was awarded the prestigious Daniel F. Reeves Pioneer Award by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Horner has been a shooter at the Tribune-Review for the past 15 years. Prior to joining the Tribune-Review, he was a staff photographer at Gannett newspapers in Pittsburgh (1995-97). He began his career in 1992 at the Meadville (Pa.) Tribune after graduating from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

The prestigious contest is open to professional photographers ordinarily on assignment to cover NFL games. Photos taken during the 2011 NFL season, that included Super Bowl XLVI and the 2012 Pro Bowl, were eligible.

Contest judging was conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in April by a panel of prominent photo editors and photographers. The judges included Ben Liebenberg, Lead Photographer/Photo Editor, National Football League; John Reid, III, Team Photographer, Cleveland Browns; Michael F. Fabus, Pittsburgh Steelers Team Photographer (retired); Ed Suba, Staff Photographer for the Akron Beacon Journal; and Tony Tomsic, a nationally acclaimed freelance photographer who has shot every Super Bowl to date.

Horner will be officially honored at the Enshrinees GameDay Roundtable, part of the 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012.